Wishing all you February babies a Happy Birthday Month! February is represented by the gemstone amethyst, which is known for its beautiful shades of purple. February is often associated with being cold and short, so this gemstone is a perfect balance to bring about a little extra warmth, peace and strength.

Amethyst is a purple quartz and can be found in every corner of the earth. The gemstone gets its color from irradiation, iron impurities and the presence of trace elements which produces a purple hues that range from a light pinkish violet to a deep purple.

The name for this gem comes from the Ancient Greek word, word “methustos,” which means “intoxicated.” It was believed that Amethyst would ward off any intoxicating powers and prevent drunkenness. Other historical accounts say that Saint Valentine had an amethyst ring carved with an image of Cupid and the Old Testament names Amethyst as one of the twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel. It is also the gem for the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.

It’s hard to believe holiday season is here! We’re excited to announce a very special Shah & Shah Distinctive shopping event this year. From November 5-30, we will have weekly special pricing on select collections:

Happy birthday to our November babies! You are another of the lucky ones with two birthstones: citrine AND topaz.

Citrine is very rare in nature, and is a yellow/orange variety of quartz. Because of its rarity, most citrine available on the market are actually heat-treated amethyst. The yellow to orange hue is a result of traces of iron that is found in the gem. In Bolivia, amethyst and citrine can actually be present in the same crystal, a unique gem called ametrine. Citrine was particularly popular in the Victorian era, often seen in brooches and rings, because of Queen Victoria’s fascination with the gem.

Citrine brings about joy and happiness, positivity and sunshine, even its name is derived from the French word for lemon! It is also said to activate the imagination and to bring financial successes. Citrine is also the 13th anniversary gemstone.

November’s second birthstone is topaz, a versatile gemstone that can be found in variations of blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple. Most people are only familiar with blue topaz (December’s birthstone) which rarely occurs naturally.

Ancient Greeks believed that topaz gave them strength, and during the European Renaissance, people thought that topaz could break magic spells. Indian culture has believed that topaz worn near the heart brings long life, intelligence and beauty.

Our coral skull ring was recently featured on 1stdibs’ blog, The Study! Below is an excerpt from the article, and you can read the full article on The Study.

THE LONG-LIVED APPEAL OF SKULL JEWELRY

Beloved by rockers and history buffs alike, skull jewelry has stayed relevant across centuries.

Edgy? Morbid? Timeless? Depending on your point of view, any of these adjectives could be used to describe jewelry featuring skulls. For the historically inclined, skulls are a popular symbol in memento mori jewelry, a design style dating back to the 16th century intended to remind wearers that one day they will die. In other words, it was a message to the God-fearing masses that you better live right or face the consequences later.

Too often people buy jewelry and never wear it. We are big fans of sayings like “diamonds everyday!” and “if you have it, wear it.” You’ll often hear us refer to “everyday fine jewelry” as well, but the truth is any fine jewelry can be everyday jewelry. Here are some tips on how to build your dream jewelry collection.

There’s nothing we love more than helping to create a bespoke, timeless, stunning engagement ring, from our first meeting with a client to seeing photos of the proposal. Often times, clients come to us not entirely knowing what they want, but knowing they want something special. These five considerations are key to making sure you find your perfect ring within the budget and timeline that you want it:

Our friends born during September enjoy sapphire as their birthstone! It’s also the gemstone of the 5th and 45th anniversaries. Sapphires have been associated with wisdom, royalty, faithfulness and romance. In ancient times, kings and queens adorned themselves with the gem to protect themselves from envy and harm. In later times, clergy members wore sapphires to symbolize Heaven. More recently, sapphires have received more attention as Kate Middleton received Princess Diana’s 12-carat sapphire engagement ring from Prince William.

Upgrading your bridal jewelry – whether it be your engagement ring, your band, or both – can be an exciting experience for both you and your spouse. Some people hesitate to upgrade because of sentimental value or a bit of guilt, but we are big believers that you can upgrade while maintaining that sentimental value, and creating a new milestone for your marriage. We find that there are a few key times we see people upgrading:

Pearls are perhaps the most beloved gem of all, with history dating all the way back to 2206 BC. There are both natural and cultured pearls. Natural pearls are formed in the bodies of certain mollusks, while cultured pearls are created using human intervention usually in mollusks raised for that purpose. There are 4 types of cultured pearls based on their origin:

We know the feeling – being given something so incredible and beautiful that you never want to take it off. Most women feel that way about their engagement ring and wedding band. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but there are a few times when you really should:

Purchasing fine jewelry – including an engagement ring – can be fun, exciting and an investment. Chances are you’re either wearing the new piece, or giving it to someone special. The last thing you want to think about is something like insurance, but things happen and when they do, you’ll be so relieved you took the time to insure your new jewelry. Here are some tips on getting your new jewelry insured:

As seen on OvertheMoon.com, see the original article here. Originally stemming from ancient Egyptian tradition, the process of creating custom engagement rings has been adopted by cultures around the world for thousands of years. Since it’s arguably one of the largest purchases your significant other will make in their lifetime, it only makes sense that both the betrothed-to-be and the one proposing not only love the ring they’re creating, but also feel like they’ve had a significant role in the creative process.

Aquamarine, often just called aqua, comes from the Latin word for seawater and has centuries of lore behind it. Said to keep the waves calm and keep sailors safe, aquamarine is also rumored to keep marriages happy with its calming and soothing characteristics. Not only is it March’s birthstone, but it’s also the gemstone of the 19th wedding anniversary!

Shah & Shah News

Finding the right piece of jewelery for the right occasion, especially an engagement ring, can be quite tricky. Let us simplify it for you as you keep up to date with all that’s happening in the world of Shah & Shah.